Cicadas have been seen in the casting area and are getting louder on the river banks. Already fish are taking cicadas off the top, mainly though it's been NZ Deadly Blow Flies size 12, brown and green beetles are on the menu big time as well.

When I have been out guiding recently and we have been catching lots of fish trout on beetles, I will put a small indicator a few inches from the Bionic Beetles - to help clients or myself sometimes to detect takes.

The other day guiding we had a big rainbow refuse, though carefully inspect 4 different dries which he had probably seen from many anglers before us, but when presented with a Bionic Green Metallic Beetle he had no hesitation - from then on that day nothing refused our indicator and beetle combo - even in fast water.

A few great days since the start of the season I have been had with some clients from NZ and overseas. We're having some great shellfishing days with stunning views.

Most of the rivers fished the majority of fish landed have been rainbow trout with the odd trophy brown and nearly every one in the backcountry has come up for a dry, plenty of fat healthy fish in gin clear water.

The important safety talk with client and guides

When we are using a chopper for access to fishing / guiding we fly over the rivers a height scanning for other fishermen - once we know that the river is clear of anglers we drop in - fish upstream and at the end radio the chopper to pick us up. It's pretty awesome stuff.

As well as the radio for safety I also carry a small first aid kit and a personal locator beacon on all my guiding days chopper or 4x4 guiding.

Are you just going to leave me here with clients! Awesome!

I recommend that if you are heading into the backcountry that you need to take a locator beacon with you for your own safety.

These beacons have saved many lives - you always think it will never happen to you!! Be prepared.

GUIDING NEWS

This year thanks to Ela helping me so much, my guiding has been even more relaxed than usual and huge trout, fun and laughs have been had by all of my clients. It's so good to have so many old clients returning.

Mark and Lady Di returned again for another 8 days of bent rods and sore cheek bones, from laughing.

Erik and Marie after 4 years of hard saving from Sweden returned and both nearly cried when they had to leave and I don't blame them - the fishing was awesome the week they were here.

More photos of the guiding and tales of the huge and small trout in my next newsletter in January.

A shame to hear that the Garston Pub - where allot of my clients will stay and eat - is changing.

Al - the chef who is a master in the kitchen - has had his lease cut short - the pub will still be open though - let's hope the new lease owners can manage to keep up Al's standards.

Though Naylors Cottage is still the number one favourite for most of my clients for accom and food only 5 min drive from the shop and Mataura River.

A year of huge Oreti trout for my clients - look at the size of this wild brown trouts head as we remove a Bionic Green Beetle from its size 14 hook

SHOP HOURS - The shop will be open over Christmas and New Year

CHECK US OUT

on Facebookand read nearly daily what has been happening at the shop, soon we will be streaming shop interviews with customers and local and visiting customers!! Now that's going to be fun. For special offers, great fishing info and prizes and the best shop fly news, it's best to SIGN UP TODAY and receive the Stu's monthly news that every month you will look forward to receiving in your mail.

At the start of every day we do some Zumba Fly Casting! (joke), analysing the day before on the laptop. Lady Di getting her stroke perfect.

Recently I have been busy with some returning clients who have enrolled in my Fly Fishing Bootcamps - more about this later. But as usual - it's based around becoming the best fly fisher and fly caster you could ever be and it runs over 5 days with accom included and at the end you will leave with great memories and new casting stream craft skills.

Please enquire if you wish more information on becoming a great fly fisher and fly caster - click here

Yes - yet again Stu's Fly Shop: guiding, teaching, Superior Flies gets another great mention in a world class German fly fishing magazine - world famous? well maybe just in Germany! But as normal I'm working on it.

SIGNS

Yes behind the scenes all the building is done in house

Yes - most of you have been calling worried that someone has stolen the shop signs and we thank you for letting us know. Soon the new signs will be erected and i'm afraid there are some PC changes being made - but hey - it's still going to be one hell of a sexy huge sign and the shop will still be the cutest coolest fly shop in the world.

But its doors will only be able to stay open if you all shop with us - that bit is crucial for a small shop like this to survive. I thank you all.

MORE GREAT CUSTOMER COMMENTS

The new Deadly Blood Worm has been devastating rainbows stocks

Hi Stu, I dropped by your store approx one year ago. Unfortunately I will not be in NZ this season (off to Chilean Patagonia instead, where dragonfly patterns are very effective and I fished successfully with your sinking dragonfly nymphs last season). I would like to place an order for allot more... Trevor, USA

G’day,

I little while back I purchased a selection of your flies, I couldn’t have been happier with them and they have certainly fished the pants of anything I buy around here (Melbourne).

Anyway I’m going to be in NZ late January for 10 days (concentrating on the bottom of the South) and except for a steep learning curve I’m not really sure what to expect but I’m very excited nonetheless.

I’ve got something of an idea of the rivers I want to fish but as far as flies go im pretty clueless.

Mark my client with a wild NZ brown trout - what a sexy looking fish!

If the fishing is anything like what it is here Im guessing in late Jan terrestrials would be on the menu but besides that I don’t really know.

I was wondering if you would be able to suggest a selection of suitable flies for me to purchase?